Friday, April 30, 2010

I've got a couple of reviews coming up, so soon you'll get to read something besides twitter updates and friday fill-ins. In the meantime, feel free to read the archives if you're bored with twitter and fill-ins.

1. I was skinny and happy once - I wish I could be now.

2. All hell broke loose and I left my book somewhere between here and Poughkeepsie.

3. Why I thought my life wouldn't be as insane and sad as it is is beyond me.

4. A nap in the swing was in my thoughts today.

5. One of my father's favorite sayings was spit in one hand and wish in the other and see which one gets full first.

6. The urge to run away and hide from everything and everyone--I know that feeling!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep, tomorrow my plans include the East Texas Men In Harmony concert and Sunday, I want to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition featuring the Carr family here in Mineola!

Friday, April 23, 2010

My mom has a picture of my stepdad in her house that was printed on canvas. I've always been fascinated by painted portraits, but knew that there would never be one in my future since they are so expensive. Now they have Artist Canvas Prints, where they print a photograph on artist's canvas. WOW! I just may get that dream fulfilled yet!

UPrinting.com has rolled canvas prints in sizes ranging from 8x10 all the way up to 40x60 - that's over 3 feet by 4 feet, ya'll! They can even do custom sizes from 8x8 to 55x100, so you can do your picture up right. Want to know the coolest thing? These things start at only $15! I pay that much for a dinky little picture package for my kids' school pictures!

Okay, I have to admit that's the second-coolest thing. Why? Because the coolest thing is that UPrinting.com is giving one 3Stairs reader a 16x20 rolled canvas print with free shipping! See? That is the coolest thing, isn't it? Here's the deets:

(1) 16x20 Rolled Canvas PrintSpecifications: 1 Business Day TurnaroundShipping: FREE UPS Ground ShippingEligibility: Limited to US Residents only. Must be 18 years old and up.

*Mandatory Entry*: Tell us what kind of picture you'd get printed if you win. Will it be a portrait, a great candid shot, or a scenic shot - or maybe even a graphic design? Share your ideas!

Extra Entries:

Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to the tweet. This can be done once each day. Neato trick: just click that link and it will open a new window with the status filled in for you - all you have to do is click update!

Yesterday was Earth Day and next Thursday is Arbor Day. Regardless of your opinions on global warming, environmentalism, and tree hugging, taking care of the earth is important for the simple reason that it's nice to look at a tree every once in a while. If you can, plant a tree. If you can't, hug one instead!

1. Where are my shoes, keys, anything that I need?

2. If wishes were horses I'd be a rancher.

3. I'd like to see Ireland once in my lifetime.

4. When I was a teen, I thought I was crazy - turns out I was right.

5. One of my mother's favorite sayings was "It never hurts to ask - the worst they can do is say no."

6. I'd have a hard time doing without my naps.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed at a decent time, tomorrow my plans include staying dry and Sunday, I want to wish Michael a happy 12th anniversary!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I'm a total CoverYourHair.com fan, as you can see by the button over there in the sidebar, so I have to share their latest giveaway with you: Go to their blog and leave a comment telling about your favorite vacation spot for a chance to win a shawl!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

My birthday was Tuesday this week. I am 34 now. Part of me realizes I'm getting older, but I'm not really bothered by it. I regret my lack of fitness and energy more than anything, but that can be changed. I'd like to think that I'm growing more and more comfortable with myself as I get older and embracing the experience and wisdom I'm gaining.

If I'm wrong, just tell me so I can stick my tongue out at you!

1. I'd like to teach the world to sing - in perfect har-mo-ny!

2. One of my most favorite romantic memories is kissing Michael for the first time (on the cheek) after he bought me Tyler roses for the first time.

3. Last night, I had a Sonic burger and fries for dinner.

4. Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

5. Can we get rid of all this clutter in my house now?

6. One of my worst temptations is buying stuff on sale; a good deal is hard to resist!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a "date" with my hubby watching tv, tomorrow my plans include church and potluck and Sunday, I want to wish my dear friend Toni a happy birthday!

Friday, April 9, 2010

I began today to read for my local library's (Mineola Memorial Library) Spring Reading Challenge. Being the gadget-bound nerd I am, I began by reading children's books to my daughter from my iPhone, then continued by listening to an audio book on it. Here, my GoodReads review of the audio book I enjoyed tonight.

My rating: 5 of 5 starsA thoroughly enjoyable short story told by "a friend" of Holmes. Gaiman perfectly captures the elite observational skills of the detective and manages to throw in several surprises despite the shortness of the story.

As further information, I came to know of Gaiman via Twitter, when I saw someone else post about the eminent demise of his beloved cat Zoe. It is sad, I know, that I wasn't aware of him being the writer of Coraline (I haven't seen it, though Michael and the children watched part of it today, oddly enough). I had been thinking of listening to Coraline or Stardust because I had chosen him as the author whose initials are in the word spring (NG), but when I read the description of A Study in Emerald, I knew it was the book for which I was looking. After this first taste, I can assure you I will be remedying my sad lack of Gaiman reading forthwith!

Have you been waiting on pins and needles? Holding your breath? Wringing your hands? Well, wait, hold, and wring no more - we are ready to announce the winner of the April Out of the Box Sampler!

Okay, I just have to say this...Winner, winner, chicken dinner!Don't ask why. I have no idea. It was just stuck in my head and if I didn't get it out it was going to make my brain explode.

*ahem*

Anyway, now back to our regularly-scheduled announcement: Our handy-dandy random number generator chose comment number 37:

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Jennifer from Giveaways and More! is the lucky winner of this giveaway! I've sent her an e-mail notifying her of her glorious victory. Ok, grandiose luck. At any rate, she has 48 hours to respond before I'm forced to choose another person with even grandioser luck. I know it's not a word. I don't care.

Bummed that you didn't win? Don't fret - the April sampler boxes go on sale tomorrow, April 6! Just click on that button right down there and it'll take you right to the ordering page.